Coach Silas Leans on Vet Maggette

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Immediately following the draft-night trade for Corey Maggette, Bobcats coach Paul Silas called Maggette to deliver two messages: Maggette would be this team's starting small forward and go-to scorer. And Silas needed Maggette to immediately become this team's leader and a mentor to young teammates. Entering his 13th NBA season and joining his fifth NBA franchise, Maggette didn't feel put-upon. Instead he was flattered that Silas, a coach he never before played for, had so much faith in him. Maggette entered last season following ankle surgery and never really caught on with the Milwaukee Bucks. So the trade to Charlotte has reignited his career. Maggette instantly took to mentoring. He buys dinner for the young players as a means to build team chemistry. He frequently calls rookie Kemba Walker to be a resource and a sounding board. He recently stayed an hour after practice to teach backup Derrick Brown a spin move to free up Brown's mid-range jump shot.

 

"I'm on my way out of this league, so it's important I help these guys out," Maggette told the Charlotte Observer. The Bobcats, who beat the Bucks 96-95 on opening night, have undergone a dramatic youth movement. Gerald Wallace and Stephen Jackson were traded over a four-month period. Those deals allowed the team to draft Walker and fellow rookie Bismack Biyombo, both top-10 picks. Those two, plus Tyrus Thomas, D.J. Augustin and Gerald Henderson, form the Bobcats' future. Maggette has advised Thomas on controlling his temper and Augustin on feeling more confident. He's encouraged Henderson to seek out Bobcats owner Michael Jordan for pointers on basketball, as Maggette did when he was a young player.

 

While Silas didn't know Maggette well before the trade, his son, lead assistant Stephen Silas, had coached Maggette at Golden State. The younger Silas knew Maggette had the qualities to mentor. "He's intuitive and thoughtful," Stephen Silas told the Observer. "You wouldn't think from afar he has that soft side, that nurturing side, with his teammates."

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